ADVERTISING FEATURE If you're living in a bush fire prone area - and that's every Blue Mountains resident - then now is the time to get ready and prepare your home for the warm and dry bush fire season ahead. Find all the information you need on Saturday, September 7 at the 5th Bushfire Building Community Day, Forum and Expo. It's being held at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub in Springwood from 10am to 3pm. The event is free and family-friendly with plenty to keep everyone engaged. At this year's Community Day, experts from the NSW RFS and other bush fire professionals will share essential knowledge, tips and advice for people to prepare their homes ahead of the bush fire season and for those looking to build a new home, renovate or extend their current property to BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) requirements. The Community Forum will provide a rare opportunity to hear and ask questions from the NSW RFS, architects, builders and other industry experts. There's also the opportunity to meet and talk with industry exhibitors at the Expo including bush fire consultants, BMCC, bush fire rated building materials providers, and many more. Kids will be kept happy with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities including an adventure playground, building toys, and displays by the NSW Rural Fire Service. www.bmee.org.au Springwood resident, Chris Mein, said he found the Bushfire Building Community Day invaluable when preparing to renovate his family home, situated in a BAL-40 fire zone. "The 2013 Winmalee fires taught us how the beautiful bush we treasure can also be a very real threat to our homes and lives," Mr Mein said. "In the aftermath of the fire, the stories of jaw dropping building quotes and costs alerted us to think more about building in the Blue Mountains. "I went to the Community Day to find some answers and I wasn't disappointed. I left armed with a wealth of information and felt ready to seriously take on our home renovation project. "The build's end result gives us a real boost in confidence that our home and lives will be more likely saved in the event of a bush fire." Director of Community Resilience for the NSW RFS, Corey Shackleton, said not to let complacency get in the way of being prepared. "For a community to build bush fire resilience, residents and property owners must be engaged and this is an integral part of the process in bush fire management," Mr Shackleton said. "It's easier for you or firefighters to defend and is less likely to put your neighbours' homes at risk. It will also give you more protection if a fire suddenly threatens and you cannot leave. "The Community Day is the perfect opportunity to get all the information you need."

BUSH FIRE EXPO - Way to build resilience in community

JUST GO: Springwood resident Chris Mein with his family. He found the Bushfire Building Community Day invaluable when preparing to renovate his home.

If you're living in a bush fire prone area - and that's every Blue Mountains resident - then now is the time to get ready and prepare your home for the warm and dry bush fire season ahead.

Find all the information you need on Saturday, September 7 at the 5th Bushfire Building Community Day, Forum and Expo.

It's being held at the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub in Springwood from 10am to 3pm. The event is free and family-friendly with plenty to keep everyone engaged.

At this year's Community Day, experts from the NSW RFS and other bush fire professionals will share essential knowledge, tips and advice for people to prepare their homes ahead of the bush fire season and for those looking to build a new home, renovate or extend their current property to BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) requirements.

The Community Forum will provide a rare opportunity to hear and ask questions from the NSW RFS, architects, builders and other industry experts.

There's also the opportunity to meet and talk with industry exhibitors at the Expo including bush fire consultants, BMCC, bush fire rated building materials providers, and many more.

Kids will be kept happy with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities including an adventure playground, building toys, and displays by the NSW Rural Fire Service.